The Crystal Mines

75 Nik

I will wait here while you gather your things," Slater clasped his hands in front of him as if the perfect image of patience.

I didn't buy it. And only because I was in a foul mood, I made to test that patience. "Oh, we will come. But, you will need to make yourself quite comfortable then. You see, my cousin and I just learned that our grandfather used to reside here, and I have yet to explore his study. I don't know if or when I will return here so I plan to take in my fill of what's left of his memory."

Slater clenched his outer hand; the only indication of irritation and it brought some sick joy to know that I had gotten under his skin as planned. He was going to be fun. "Atiweh is not a patient person."

"Well, then she should have sought me out well before now, especially since Lambert made her aware of my existence nearly two years ago now."

"You dare to speak of her in such a manner?" Slater was outraged.

"I do not know her. My grandfather knew her and only spoke of her to me twice and told me to find her. And since I know nothing of her, other than she has never made herself known before now, I will take the extra hour or so to rummage through the things of the man I did know while I still have the chance. And she has a problem with me going through my grandfather's things then what does that say about a woman who was supposedly friends with him?"

"A half hour," Slater negotiated.

Alden bit back a laugh somewhere behind me as if wishing the guy luck.

"An hour." I crossed my arms.

"Forty-five minutes."

I clenched my teeth and purposefully let my power surge and bit of my dragon come unhinged. "An. Hour."

Slater blinked at the shift in dominance as my power trumped his in seconds. "Go," and he stormed off to King Larken who wore a look of amusement that someone else was getting my attitude.

Ameer whispered something to his father and joined us on the main floor to nod to the door behind the thrones. I followed, knowing he was leading the way to my grandfather's study. I only heard a few footsteps behind me and when I turned around, I only saw that my cousin, Garren, Callion, and Dath had followed. The rest had gone to pack. Ameer took us towards the delicious smell of food cooking.

"Lambert specifically requested that his study be near the kitchen. He like to snack late at night. A lot. He would even venture into the kitchens to bake sweets and leave the few he didn't eat to them for the next day. I know someone else that has a sweet tooth." Ameer spoke with pride and smiled at me knowingly. I chuckled, acting guilty, but feeling none of the effects.

"What do you expect to find?" Dath asked in that gruff tone of his.

"I'm not sure. Probably nothing. But I'd like to know more about who he was."

"Me too," Taury added solemnly. No doubt she was hating me for spending more time with him because of our private lessons.

The walk wasn't long as Ameer brought us to a door directly across from the kitchen, literally as close to food as Lambert could get. I shook my head in amusement at the memory of the old male. Ameer placed his hand on the door, and it unlocked at his touch, the room clearly warded against anyone Lambert wanted to keep out. Ameer saw me watching and smiled.

"Your touch will work too. He had the spell changed after discovering who you were."

My smile fell. All the things that Ameer knew but couldn't tell me. Why would Lambert keep these things from me? Keep me from knowing him. Keep himself from the love of his granddaughters. Did he even see my mom when she moved into Ahren's townhome? Surely, he must have. A hand at my back jarred me from my thoughts as I was gently ushered forward. Callion kept his hand there, as if knowing I'd need the support upon entering the room. Taury had gone ahead of me and was talking to Garren in reverent tones already shuffling through some papers by the sound of it.